Amidst growing concerns over the impact of the ongoing strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), the Government has renewed its call for a return to the negotiation table.
Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, speaking at a meet-the-press at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, June 10, underscored the urgency of ending the industrial action, which he said is placing an unbearable strain on the healthcare system and endangering lives. While acknowledging the legitimacy of the nurses’ demands, he stressed that resolution must come through dialogue rather than disruption.
The strike, declared illegal by the National Labour Commission after the GRNMA failed to attend a scheduled mediation meeting, has continued despite repeated directives to halt the action. According to Mr Akandoh, the government, through the Ministries of Health and Finance and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, has been working on a fiscally responsible roadmap for the implementation of the new Conditions of Service. However, he cautioned that the current demands, if granted in full, would add over GH¢2 billion to the national wage bill and risk destabilising recent economic gains.
In response to the disruption, the Ministry of Health has activated emergency measures, including the mobilisation of retired nurses and the publication of alternative healthcare facilities to assist patients. The Health Minister commended nurses who have remained at post and urged striking members to emulate their example by returning to work while negotiations continue. The government maintains that it remains open and willing to engage, but insists that meaningful dialogue can only resume once the strike is called off.